A first-grader in Florissant, Mo., was accidentally shot and killed by her 12-year-old brother Friday when he fired a gun he found in his parents’ drawer.
Six-year-old Maliyah Palmer died after being hit in the back of the head. The incident occurred while the siblings’ parents were at a Christmas party, according to a Dec. 18 report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. While the parents were out that night, the boy and his sister were being watched by their 16-year-old sister. The boy was in his parent’s bedroom when he found a 9mm handgun in a dresser drawer. Police said he then accidentally shot his nearby sister, who later died at the hospital.
“Investigators have determined that this was a tragic accident and no charges will be filed at this time,” police said in the statement. But by Monday, Dec. 17, Police Chief Timothy Lowery said investigators will hand their findings to a prosecutor who will look to determine what, if any, charges will be filed.
(Maliyah Palmer was fatally shot when her older brother accidentally discharged a 9mm he found in his parent’s dresser drawer. Photo courtesy of Parkway School District)
Despite that being a standard procedure, Lowery said that decision will be difficult.
“You couldn’t have written a more tragic script, the whole thing is just so tragic and terrible, but we have to put our personal feelings aside and do the law enforcement side of this,” the police chief said.
Over the weekend, Rene Sommers, principal of Green Trails Elementary School in Chesterfield, Mo., where Maliyah attended, sent a letter to parents following the incident.
“It is difficult to find the right words to convey this information, but necessary so that we all work together to support this family, our students, staff, and community,” Sommers said in part in a letter obtained by Fox 2 Now. “The district will be supporting us by sending additional counselors and social workers to school first thing Monday morning. In addition, we are working with Annie’s Hope – The Center for Grieving Kids.
“We will meet as a staff before school to process and discuss how we will share this news with students in an age appropriate way. Our goal will be to keep the day and routine normal. We will share the news honestly and openly so that understanding, processing, grieving and healing can begin,” she said.
